Like so many of the very best things, Miss Scarlett Jane (a 7-year-old Great Dane) burst into my life quite unexpectedly. In June of 2015, a little over a month after my dog of 9 years had passed away, my sister called me up saying that I needed to get on Facebook immediately to check out a dog that had just come up for adoption. I told her no thanks, I just wasn’t ready. I was still grieving and was in no shape to adopt another dog so soon after losing my boy. After a few more minutes of her insisting that I just needed “to look”, I hung up, convinced I wasn’t interested.

That lack of interest lasted only moments, before curiosity got the best of me. Within seconds of hanging up the phone I jumped on Facebook, saw Scarlett’s face, and fell in love. And within minutes, I’d sent a private message to the humane society where she was being held, expressing my extreme interest.

Scarlett had been surrendered from a family with other dogs and young children, and was listed as a “special case”. Her new owner would need to meet certain requirements before being considered as a feasible adoptive option. As luck would have it, I had previous experience with Great Danes and since I was living in a country home free of children and other pets, I knew Scarlett and I would be a perfect fit. The next day the shelter was open, I scheduled a meeting during my lunch hour to introduce myself to Miss Scarlett. I could tell this beautiful girl was nervous and disoriented by the chaos of the shelter surroundings, but after just a few minutes she was leaning into me with all her heart, and I was a goner. The volunteer on hand didn’t even need to ask, we went straight into the office and filled out the paperwork that afternoon. And for the next year and a half we lived happily ever after…

Flash forward to February of last year, when the happy little bubble Scarlett and I were living in, burst around us. One fateful morning as I was wiping her down from the messiness of our snowy/muddy morning walk, I came across a terrifyingly large mass that had all but appeared out of nowhere on her belly. I put a call out to her vet and within an hour she was being examined and my worst fears were coming to life. Surgery was scheduled for several days later, where it was discovered that my girl had the canine equivalent of breast cancer. She was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of inflammatory carcinoma. The prognosis was grim at best and our post-surgical options were limited. I was told that the surgery would only do so much and that without additional treatment, Scarlett had maybe weeks to live. Refusing to give up on my girl without exhausting every available option, I was referred to Dr. Kenneth Rassnick and the Oncology department at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) of CNY. And two days after the biggest snow storm of early 2017, I loaded my girl into the car and made the hour long commute to Syracuse to see what our future held.

Walking into the VMC, I was cautiously optimistic, because we really had nothing to lose. But instantly I knew that no matter what happened, we were in the best possible hands. The atmosphere was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, in any medical office, human or otherwise. Everyone from the receptionists to the techs to the docs were kind, understanding and so very sympathetic to our situation. Even the other pet-parents, were super supportive and wishing us well. This extensive group of complete strangers took us in and were going to help us in any way they could.

After our consultation, it was decided that a combination of chemotherapy and a daily medication would be the best option for Scarlett. For the next 3 months, Scarlett and I traveled out to Syracuse on a weekly basis for her treatments, making friends with several Thruway toll collectors along the way. And for a dog that was quite apprehensive about visiting the doctor and very reluctant to leave my side, Scarlett handled the treatments amazingly well, carrying herself with a graceful dignity that any pet-parent would be proud of.

In June, it appeared that Scarlett could possibly be on her way to remission. Her bloodwork was looking good and her scans were all clear. My heart was overcome with joy and relief. In my mind, Scarlett had beaten the odds and we had been granted the miracle I had been praying for. My brave sweet girl, who deserved so much more from her golden years, enjoyed a perfectly amazing summer of long rides in the car with the windows down, lazy days napping in the sunshine and all the snacks and snuggles she could handle.

In September, to my great disappointment and to the disappointment of all our wonderful friends at VMC, I found a new mass on Scarlett’s belly. So we’re back to our regularly scheduled chemotherapy and trying our luck with a new medication. But most importantly, Scarlett’s spirits are high and she’s feeling good. So for now we take it day by day, the plan being to keep Scarlett happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

I don’t know what the future holds, but what I do know is that finding Dr. Rassnick and all the incredible people at the VMC has been a true blessing. They helped to keep my sweet girl feeling like herself and have given me precious time with her, and those two things have been the greatest gifts I could have ever asked for. So from the bottom of my heart I thank you… and Scarlett thanks you too!

Bevyn's Story

In December of 2015, I noticed a small growth on the lower lip of my 4 year old Golden Retriever, Bevyn. I contacted his primary veterinarian and brought him in to be evaluated. They decided to perform a fine needle aspiration of the growth and had me continue to monitor the area for any changes. The fine needle aspiration was inconclusive and within a couple of weeks his front bottom teeth began to shift and there was obvious inflammation. Due to the sudden changes in his mouth, his vet performed x-rays of his jaw and she confirmed that a tumor was present.

I was beyond devastated. Unfortunately, due to his breed the vet prepared me for the “C” word, cancer. I was immediately referred to Dr. Rassnick at the VMC in January 2016. During the oncology consult, Dr. Rassnick discussed the options that were available for Bevyn and from there we started our journey at the VMC. A fine needle aspiration was initially performed on 2 lymph nodes to rule out any metastasis, thankfully they were both clear. A CT scan was performed to show the margins of the tumor and biopsies were taken which confirmed the diagnosis of fibrosarcoma.

The next step was meeting with Dr. Robinson for a surgery consult to remove the tumor. Dr. Robinson’s plan was to perform a bilateral rostral mandibulectomy (removing a large portion of his lower jaw). In March 2016, Bevyn’s surgery was a success and I was able to bring him home the day after surgery. Dr. Robinson’s surgical work on Bevyn’s mouth was wonderful. I had planned for alterations in Bevyn’s basic activities such as eating, drinking and playing with his toys but he has continued to prove me wrong! He is eating and drinking the same as before his surgery and he still enjoys finding sticks outside to chew on. Although we have hit some bumps in the road during Bevyn’s recovery and a few more than anticipated visits to the VMC, Bevyn is still my happy and energetic boy.

Bevyn is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Rassnick to prevent any future regrowth or spread of the fibrosarcoma. The level of compassion and professionalism we have received from all of the staff at the VMC has been immense. I am thankful every day for the care that has been provided for Bevyn.

~Bevyn’s Mom

Diagnosis:

Oral Fibrosarcoma

Treatment:

Mandibulectomy surgery to remove tumor and section of affected jaw

Multiple chemotherapy treatments followed surgery due to his risk of tumor recurrence and spread

DEMPSEY'S STORY

Dempsey, our beautiful Great Dane, was diagnosed with lymphoma in May of this year. We knew something was wrong because his energy level had just disappeared, and he stopped eating. His primary care veterinarian, Dr. Fatcheric at Fairmount Animal Hospital, broke the news to us that Dempsey had Lymphoma. As we tried to come to grips with the news, Dr. Fatcheric told us about the treatments that were available for lymphoma patients at Veterinary Medical Center. We made an appointment to meet with Dr. Rassnick to evaluate Dempsey's condition.

After his initial blood work, and a biopsy, it was confirmed that Dempsey had stage IV B-cell lymphoma. He had received good news though, his lymphoma, was treatable! Dempsey started his first treatment for lymphoma at our first meeting with Dr. Rassnick. Once we received the test results, his program was tailored to fit what treatment he needed. He went in remission within one week of his first treatment. Dempsey did very well with the chemotherapy program. He started out with a 5 drug program, and within a month and a half, progressed to a 10 drug program. He went through his treatment with no side effects, due to the preventative drugs he received while getting chemotherapy. Throughout his treatment, Dempsey had the energy of a young Great Dane again, and was going on 2 mile daily walks. We also have a camp in the Adirondacks, which he thoroughly enjoyed throughout this summer. He went on walks and hikes at our camp, without tiring. Dempsey received a second chance at life once we decided to have his lymphoma treated. We can't thank VMC enough for all they have done for our gentle giant and for giving us hope, when it seemed there was none. Thank you again, Dr. Rassnick, and the staff of Veterinary Medical Center.

~ Dempsey’s Family

Dempsey lost his struggle with Lymphoma late last year, but we were so happy to help this wonderful dog and his family enjoy another beautiful summer and autumn. It was impossible not to fall in love with Dempsey (and his people!), and we still miss them all terribly at VMC.

Abby's Story

Abby started her journey with the VMC in 2009 when she was 9 years old. Prior to the VMC, Abby had surgery in the early 2000’s to repair both cruciate ligaments in her hind legs. She was experiencing some discomfort due to resulting osteoarthritis and trigger points in her shoulders (as she compensated for her knees). Abby had also been diagnosed with Laryngeal Paralysis (LP) which restricted her breathing. We had consulted with a surgical veterinarian regarding the LP; however, he felt surgery was not warranted yet and suggested acupuncture. Hearing Dr. Fleckenstein was the local expert, Abby started acupuncture sessions at the VMC with the added benefit of reducing the pain associated with the osteoarthritis and trigger points.

As Abby’s breathing became more labored due to the LP, Dr. Robinson at VMC performed a unilateral tieback surgery to reduce the restriction caused by her larynx. Now able to breathe better, and with her joint/muscle pain under control, Abby was back to acting like her old self, an active pup, again. After Abby’s tieback surgery, we continued acupuncture sessions and introduced supplements recommended by Dr. Fleckenstein to help with the osteoarthritis. Abby would become so relaxed and comfortable during acupuncture that she would fall asleep during her treatments.

Dr. Fleckenstein thought Abby could benefit from the addition of physical rehab, so in 2010 we started rehab with Lis Conarton. Abby’s physical rehab includes laser therapy for her joints, manual trigger point release, and walking on the underwater treadmill. Lis also provided us with a home exercise program including massage, range of motion exercises, swimming, and walking at the beach. Abby adores Lis and is very accommodating even when Lis is working out her painful trigger points! In 2013, Abby was diagnosed with a hemangiopericytoma, a soft tissue sarcoma, below her right eye. After consultation with Dr. Rassnick at the VMC, Dr. Robinson again performed surgery on Abby – this time to remove the sarcoma. Unfortunately, the sarcoma could not be removed completely due to the location, so Dr. Robinson implanted a few chemotherapy beads. Dr. Rassnick also recommended the addition of low dose metronomic chemotherapy to prevent the sarcoma from growing, which Abby has tolerated well. We continue to see Dr. Rassnick and we’re happy to report Abby has had no regrowth of the sarcoma for almost 2 years.

Abby loves going to the VMC! The office and medical staff welcome her with so much loving attention, it doesn’t matter whether she’s here for surgery with Dr. Robinson, bloodwork with Dr. Rassnick, acupuncture with Dr. Fleckenstein or rehab with Lis. With the wonderful care provided by the VMC, Abby is now almost 15 years old. Abby continues her rehab with Lis, home exercise, and supplements to maintain her quality of life and allow her to age comfortably and gracefully.
~ Abby’s Loving Family